Book of Ezekiel: Chapter 34
Who’s to blame when a nation falls astray? Should one blame the leaders? They were the ones that were supposed to protect and guide. Perhaps one should blame the citizens. They Were selfish and didn’t care for their fellow citizens in need. In chapter 34, God places blame on both parties for the fall of Israel.
In this chapter, God speaks to two metaphorical groups of Israelites: the shepherds and the flock. God begins by denouncing the shepherds of Israel. He blames them for leading their lambs astray. They have been selfish and took care of themselves rather than taking care of their flock. Because of this, the Israelites have strayed into becoming an incredibly sinful nation.
On the other hand, God doesn’t let the flock come out of this blameless. He follows up His criticism of the shepherds by placing blame on the flock. In their case, they have been selfish as well. They have taken all the available resources for themselves and left nothing for their fellow sheep. This has left the poor, the unfortunate, the sick to not be taken care of, as God has instructed us to do.
But Ezekiel 34 ends on a positive note. The last few verses of this chapter outline God’s peace covenant with the Israelites. He promises to appoint a new shepherd (the Messiah) to seek out the lost members of the flock, to bring them home to Israel, and to usher in a better world for them.
Key Verses:
“I will make a covenant of peace with my people and drive away the dangerous animals from the land. Then they will be able to camp safely in the wildest places and sleep in the woods without fear. I will bless my people and their homes around my holy hill. And in the proper season I will send the showers they need. There will be showers of blessing.” ~ Ezekiel 34:25-26 NLT
Questions to ponder:
- The metaphor of a shepherd and his flock shows up multiple times in the Bible, where else is this metaphor made?
- What can we do to make sure we are not led astray?
